Cervical collar having removable color coordinated cover

ABSTRACT

A cervical collar or neck brace of the resilient foam type is equipped with Velcro fastener means near its ends. A readily removable fabric cover or sleeve for the collar in any desired color is appliable over the collar and has a window formed therethrough near one end to register with the Velcro receiver material of the collar. At its other end, the cover or sleeve has an opening whose margins are stretched into engagement with the Velcro hooks and impaled thereon, leaving a window in registration with the hooks. The cover is readily removable for laundering or replacement by a cover of another color.

[451 Nov. 25, 1975 United States Patent [191 Neel [ CERVICAL COLLAR HAVING REMOVABLE COLOR COORDINATED Primary Examiner-Richard A. Gaudet COVER Assistant ExaminerJ. Yasko [76] Inventor: Phoebe B. Neel, 829 N. Dawson St., ttomey' Agent or Firm B P Flshbume Jr Thomasville, Ga. 31792 NOV. 19, 1974 ABSTRACT [22] Filed:

A cervical collar or neck brace of the resilient foam Appl' 525088 type is equipped with Velcro fastener means near its ends. A readily removable fabric cover or sleeve for the collar in any desired color is appliable over the collar and has a window formed therethrough near one end to register with the Velcro receiver material of the collar. At its other end, the cover or sleeve has 3213 M um DID; W ZA 1- 9 72 .y 800 N 5 5 m 76 ll 8 1 w "H12 nu. mmh .tr ""3 "H "H I .f C.|..0 .m mk Urn-F 1]] 218 555 [ll an opening whose margins are stretched into engage- [56] References Cited ment with the Velcro hooks and impaled thereon, UNITED STATES PATENTS leaving a window in registration with the hooks. The

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r n 6 f a HB 255 456 999 ll] 2 6 l 7466 2526 590 72 23 2233 US. Patent Nov. 25, 197 s COLOR Aa" COLOR CERVICAL COLLAR HAVING REMOVABLE COLOR COORDINATED COVER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The use of cervical collars is becoming ever more commonplace since these collars are very effective in relieving certain injuries, spinal problems and the like. One common objection to wearing a cervical collar, particularly by women, is its rather unsightly appearance. Consequently, many patients discontinue wearing the collar sooner than advisable.

The object of the invention is to alleviate this problem through the provision of relatively attractive, variously colored exterior covers or sleeves for cervical collars, allowing the latter to be easily color coordinated with clothing and generally rendering the collar less objectionable in terms of appearance. The cover or sleeve is easily appliable to and removable from the collar, and is structured in a unique manner to cooperate with the Velcro fastener means, or equivalent means, commonly employed on cervical collars. As a practical matter, an ordinary hose or stocking of sheer knit fabric modified to provide the necessary Velcro cooperating windows may be utilized. If preferred, other forms of thin stretch fabric in desirable colors or tubular knitted elements for this purpose may be employed.

The invention is characterized by extreme simplicity and economy and interferes in no way with the application of the collar to the neck of the user.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING FIGURES FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the use of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a packaging arrangement for the invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the invention as it is being applied to a conventional cervical collarl FIG. 4 is a fragmentary elevational view showing the final steps in applying the cover embodying the invention to the cervical collar.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a collar having the cover of the invention fully applied thereto ready for use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein like numerals designate like parts, the numeral designates a cervical collar of a conventional type having an elongated body roughly rectangular in cross section and being formed of resilient plastic foam or the like with a porous outer fabric cover 11 entirely covering the body. The fabric cover 11 is permanently attached and therefore not removable. At its end portions and on opposite sides, the collar 10 has Velcro fastener means including a generally rectangular area 12 of minute hook elements and a like area 13 of Velcro receiver material on the opposite side of the collar. All of this construction of the collar 10 is conventional and is shown substantially in prior U.S. Pat. No. 3,696,810, and other patents, and therefore need not be described in further detail herein.

The invention proper comprises a color coordinated sleeve or cover 14 for the collar 10 for the purpose of rendering it matching in color or coordinated in color with the apparel of the user. Referring to FIG. 1, a cervicalcollar is shown in use with the removable cover 14 of the invention thereon and formed of fabric having a Returning to the detailed description of the cover or sleeve 14, it is preferably constructed from sheer knit fabric of the type utilized for regular womens hosiery and is therefore highly flexible and very lightweight. The body of the cover 14 is a tubular knitted body closed at one end 18 corresponding to the toe of an ordinary hose. The opposite end of the fabric body remains open as illustrated. Near the closed end 18, cover 14 is provided in one side wall thereof with a generally rectangular window opening 19 adapted to register with the Velcro receiver material 13, FIG. 5, when the cover is fully applied to the collar. The window 19 renders the receiver material 13 exposed so that it may receive the hook area 12 of the Velcro fastener material;

At its opposite end and opposite side wall portion, the cover 14 has a large opening or slot 20 extending through its open end, FIG. 3, and this slot or opening, after full application to the collar 10, FIG. 5, forms a second window for the Velcro area 12 allowing this uncovered area to be pressed against the receiver material 13 and held when the collar is applied to the patient.

As noted in FIG. 3, the tubular cover or sleeve 14 is simply pulled onto the collar 10 with the slot 20 on the proper side of the collar to register with the hook area 12, and the window opening 19 on the opposite side to eventually register with the receiver material 13. In FIG. 4, the cover 14 has been fully pulled onto the collar and the marginal edges 21 forming the slot 20 are shown by the arrows as being pulled and folded over onto the margins of the Velcro area 12 and impaled thereon for the purpose of securing the cover to the collar firmly although easily removable. Progressing to FIG. 5, the cover 14 is fully applied after the end flap 22 has been pulled around the end of the collar and pressed down onto the Velcro material and secured, leaving the major part of the Velcro area uncovered for use. The collar is then applied to the neck of the wearer in the usual manner. The invention has no adverse effect on the collar and interferes in no way with its effectiveness or efficiency. The cover or sleeve 14 is easily pulled from the collar 1 0 for laundering and/or replacement by another cover of a different color or shade in terms of the concept shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

' The purposes and advantages of the invention should now be apparent to those skilled in the art without further description herein.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred-example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. A removable cover element for a cervical collar or the like comprising a unitary flexible fabric sleeve having a desired color, said sleeve open at one end and closed at its opposite end, said sleeve having a side wall window opening near its closed end being approximately rectangular and somewhat elongated longitudinally of the sleeve, and said sleeve being slotted in its opposite side wall portion at its open end, said slot being approximately rectangular and extending through the open end of the sleeve.

2. The structure of claim 1, and said flexible fabric sleeve comprising a tubular knitted sleeve substantially similar to a knitted hose.

3. The structure of claim 1, wherein said sleeve is formed of stretch fabric.

4. The structure of claim 3, and wherein said stretch fabric is a sheer fabric.

5. The combination with an elongated resilient compressible cervical collar having Velcro components or the like at opposite end portions and opposite sides thereof, of a thin flexible stretch fabric removable cover for said collar in the form of a unitary sleeve closed at one end and open at its other end, said sleeve provided in one side wall portion and near its closed end with a window opening adapted for registration with one Velcro component of the collar when the sleeve is fully applied to the collar, and the sleeveproi vided in its opposite side wall portion at its open end with an opening which extends through the open end, said last-named opening adapted to register withthe other Velcro component of the collar when the sleeve is fully applied thereto.

6. The structure of claim 5, and said last-named opening being an elongate generally rectangular slot in i said sleeve, the side wall portion of the sleeve opposite said slot having a terminal portion adapted to be stretched and folded around the adjacent end of the tion of the sleeve to the collar. 

1. A removable cover element for a cervical collar or the like comprising a unitary flexible fabric sleeve having a desired color, said sleeve open at one end and closed at its opposite end, said sleeve having a side wall window opening near its closed end being approximately rectAngular and somewhat elongated longitudinally of the sleeve, and said sleeve being slotted in its opposite side wall portion at its open end, said slot being approximately rectangular and extending through the open end of the sleeve.
 2. The structure of claim 1, and said flexible fabric sleeve comprising a tubular knitted sleeve substantially similar to a knitted hose.
 3. The structure of claim 1, wherein said sleeve is formed of stretch fabric.
 4. The structure of claim 3, and wherein said stretch fabric is a sheer fabric.
 5. The combination with an elongated resilient compressible cervical collar having Velcro components or the like at opposite end portions and opposite sides thereof, of a thin flexible stretch fabric removable cover for said collar in the form of a unitary sleeve closed at one end and open at its other end, said sleeve provided in one side wall portion and near its closed end with a window opening adapted for registration with one Velcro component of the collar when the sleeve is fully applied to the collar, and the sleeve provided in its opposite side wall portion at its open end with an opening which extends through the open end, said last-named opening adapted to register with the other Velcro component of the collar when the sleeve is fully applied thereto.
 6. The structure of claim 5, and said last-named opening being an elongate generally rectangular slot in said sleeve, the side wall portion of the sleeve opposite said slot having a terminal portion adapted to be stretched and folded around the adjacent end of the collar and then impaled on a marginal portion of the adjacent Velcro component, the side edge portions of said slot also adapted to be impaled on marginal portions of said Velcro component so that the sleeve is removably attached to said component after full application of the sleeve to the collar. 